US blacklists 42 Chinese firms for aiding Russia in Ukraine war

The US Commerce Department has added 42 Chinese companies to its economic blacklist, accusing them of aiding Russia's military and defense industry in the ongoing war in Ukraine. These companies, including semiconductor industry players in Hong Kong and mainland China, are alleged to have supplied US-origin integrated circuits to importers connected to the Russian military sector. The move comes as the US and China potentially move closer to setting up a meeting between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next month.